After reading an article by the founder about his modern and sustainable palenque, I was inspired to try this mezcal. Considering the cost of $35 a bottle.. it’s quite good. It’s very clean on the nose. There are nice notes of vanilla, firewood, citrus, and peat. At 45% ABV it holds a lot of flavor, usually mezcals in this price range are around 40% ABV and taste watery.

Nose of dried apple much like the other La Venenosa raicilla from Maximiliana agave. I got notes of spearmint, grape, apple, and slight metal. It doesn’t taste too strong going down but the finish leaves your palate tingling from the high ABV. Compared to the other La Venenosa Maximiliana raicilla (black bottle), you can taste the difference a second distillation makes.. the flavor experience is more compact and distinct here. I enjoyed this but expected to be more impressed considering the high cost of about $200/bottle; thankfully I tried this at a bar. Lot 3, 5-16.

Really nice ensamble from a brand I had never tried until now. The madrecuishe flavors are bright and well-defined, fruity with a velvet spiciness. It finishes with a nice kick from the espadin that doesn’t linger. Can’t recall another ensamble like this but I will now be on the lookout because the madrecuishe and espadin compliment each other nicely. Very enjoyable and well-priced. I enjoyed batch 15-M from 2015 more than Batch 19/18-EN3.

Decent tobala from Rey Campero. A bit hot with flavors more fruity than vegetal. Notes of leather, wood, and jalapeño. You don’t see this release around very often. Lot D5002-70 from July 2014.

Dried peach on the nose. Semisweet taste of flan and orange peel on the palate. Delicious cupreata from Del Maguey. Lot 15-1

Incredible nose of papaya but disappointing on the palate. The glass I tried had a prominent taste of rubber with a chemical finish. I was surprised and had my girlfriend give it a sip.. she agreed that it had artificial flavors. This was a rare disappointment for me from Del Maguey, however I will try it again and hope for a better batch.

Earth and minerals on the nose. This is a bit warmer than other madre-cuishe mezcals I’ve tried. Nice notes of raspberries and overall fruit with some slight copper finish. Tasty stuff from Vago Mezcal per usual. March 2016 batch from Emigdio Jarquin, didn’t catch the lot number.

On the palate there are notes of apple, fresh clay, tangerine, and peat. If you’re trying Chango Loco, I still prefer their Madre-Cuishe. Lot 101

A tepextate with notes of smoke and pepper on the nose. On the palate there are notes of sweet leather, jalapeño, and mild fruit. This tepextate is down the middle and a bit mild compared to other agave tepextate mezcals, however it is a decent introduction to one of the most delicious agaves. Lot 15-1

Very tasty barril from El Jolgorio. For me, barrils are one of the more potent members of the karwinskii agave family with loud flavors. This barril has notes of wood, earth, honey, lavender, and orange blossom. The finish is a bit hot but overall this is a delicious barril. Edition 04 from 2014, Ignacio Parada.

Very clean on the nose with light aromas of clay-vanilla. Velvet on the palate. The delicate karwinskii flavors are strong here and well-supported by the espadin. I’ve never tasted nor seen mezcal with Tripon agave anywhere aside from this Real Minero so I’m not sure how to pick out the flavor it of. The barril and largo are very nice. The flavors are incredibly clean and well-defined with notes of vanilla, fresh-cut grass, and marshmallow. Bottle 162/781, Lot 001 from 2004.

Wonderful aromas of plum and burnt cinnamon. This tobalá has some heat at 52%. Some of the typical tobalá vegetal notes are overshadowed by strong flavors of caramel, pepper, and metal. This one might need to rest longer to mellow out. Lot MJ08-14

Updated March 2020 –
Something has changed at the Don Amado palenque because this more recent batch (Lot 81 – 401 liters) of Rustico has some solid Santa Catarina Minas vibes happening. The nose is fresh clay and charred maguey. On the palate, there is some nice clay funk along with spearmint, zucchini, and peach preserves. Like the previously reviewed batch (nearly 50 batches ago!) I still get some of that underlying funk but it is much more composed and enjoyable here. After trying recent batches of their whole lineup I’m definitely more of a fan than previously. Check out the Don Amado ensambles.

Original review –
Smells a bit like spoiled fruit on the nose. At an ABV of 47% there is not much bite. It’s quite smooth booze-wise but it’s also smooth flavor-wise. Overall I’m getting a lot of spoiled funkiness with notes of mild peat and cheap toothpaste. Bought a bottle without much knowledge of the brand and will be using for Bloody Marys instead of sipping neat. Lot 34

One of the most unique agave spirits that will ever touch your tongue. This raicilla from maximiliana agave is supposed to have health benefits. This is dangerously easy to enjoy. On the nose there are aromas of apple and vinegar. The taste itself is oddly familiar.. I can’t quite put my finger on it, or rather my mouth. It’s both sweet and sour with flavors of sour cherry with sweet nectar. The ABV is a bit low at 42% but the flavors linger on the palate nicely. Lote 12 from 05-15.

Delicious arroqueno from Don Beto! Getting some floral notes on the nose. The flavors aren’t overpowering and carry hints of wood, burnt caramel, chocolate, banana. The finish is a bit hot with the alcohol lingering slightly.

Decent sipping espadin from Fidencio. I’m yet to be completely blown away by Fidencio mezcal. Overall their mezcals are decent for the price. Friends I’ve talked to really like their Tepextate. This Clasico has notes of vanilla, lemon, and peat. While this is a decent mezcal for the price, I’d prefer a Nuestra Soledad or Alipus over this Fidencio for a sipper in a similar price range.

Mezcal from agave jabali is an immensely enjoyable type of mezcal; I’ve only tried this and the El Jolgorio Jabali. It’s flavor is very bold and it should not be the first drink of the night. There are delicious notes of jalapeno, tanned leather, vanilla, peat, and ash. It’s almost like an agave Americana meets a Karwinskii. Definitely give this a try if you see it.

If you enjoy arroqueno mezcals you will enjoy this special Los Nahuales release. The sierrudo agave carries a lot of familiar arroqueno notes. The sierrudo dominates this ensamble (in a good way) and the cuishe compliments the bold Americana flavors nicely. There are some strong pepper flavors with notes of fruit, firewood, caramel, and peat. This unique ensamble is a limited-release so try it while you can.

Lots of earthiness and dirt on the nose. The espadin flavors are a bit dominate over the cuishe. There are notes of lemon, salt, wood, subtle mineral, and gum. This is a nice sipper at 46% but not my favorite from Don Beto. However, considering the price this is a good value. Lot: DJEN/0116

Delicious and complex Mexicano mezcal. This spirit has warm notes of cedar, clove, basil, vanilla, earthen cinnamon, and sour cherry. One of the better Mexicanos out there. Lote: 18-D